Construction for motion-picture cameras or the like



L. BROWN.. CONSTRUCTION FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS 0R THE LIKE.

- APPLICATTON FILED 1AN,20,1920. 1,428,321. PatentedSept. 5, 1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l L. BROWN. CONSTRUCTION FOR MOTION PICTURE CAMERAS 0R THE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED IAN, 20. H320.

1,428,321. y Patentedsept. 5, 1922.

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Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

LLOYD Bnowmor LosANGELEs, CALIFORNIA, AssIeNon To SILENT DRAMA 'sYNnIJ CATEy'AfI TRUSTEESHI'P, LLOYD BROWN AND'ALEXANDERGRAYDON, TRUSTEES.

CONSTRUCTION Fon MOTION- PICTURE CAMERAS on THE LIKE.

Application med January 2o, 1920. serial No. 352,764.

FoI all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LLOYDBRCWN, a citizen ofthe United States; residin at Los An eles, intheconnty of.Los"nge es, State of alifornia, have invented n''w and useful Improvements in Construction for Motion- Picture Cameras or the like, of whichthe following is a specification. i'

This invention relates to such mechanisms as motion picture cameras and similar devices; and 1t is a general object of the invention to provide a construction, arrangement and mounting for a motion p icture .camera which will give great strength and solidarity, freedom from vibration, ease of adjustment and manipulation. -There are other objects, and corresponding features of the invention, as will be best 'apparent from the following desdription of a 'preferred form of my invention.

Heretofore motion picture cameras have ordinarily been mounted at their lower ends upon a mounting head revoluble upon a suitfV able support, as a tripod, and also capable of being tilted. Tilting motion 4of the camerabox, and of the magazine'boxes with the camera box, Ihas taken place around a horizontall axis at the ylower end of the camera. The whole Support for the camera has been at the lower end of the camera case. Any tilting of the camera case thus necessarlly throws the camera case forward and l advantages are attained together with other advantages, which will e ex lained hereinafter. embodying my invention is the mounting of f the camera case on a horizontal axis which passes through the case preferably at or near its center; so that the camera case is directly supported on a substantially central horizontal axis in contradistinction to .bein supported upon a horizontal adjustment axis primary feature o a mechanism -at its lower end far removed from its center the operat` of mass andfar removed from ing mechanism.

I provide a supporting frame which, although it maybe `made of metal of low specific gravity, (for instance, of aluminum) has suiicient mass andstrength and solidity to form` a very stable support. .This relatively rigid frame performs a function of solidly connecting the camera case, by a mounting at or near'its center as stated,.to the ultimate support, for instance, the tripod. The resultis that the camera itself is very ri idly supported and vibration'is thus reduce to 'a minimum in any type of camera.-

For the purpose of making clearly intelligible the general and broad features of mfy invention, as wellas the specific details o a preferred form of mechanism embodying the invention, I now proceed t0l a detailed description of that preferred form f mechanism, and for that purposerefer to the accompanying drawings in which- Fig. 1 is a rear elevation of my improved camera construction and mounting; Fig. 2'

is an enlarged vertical central section' taken as indicated by line 2-'-2 on Fig. 1; Fig. 3l is a detail section taken as indicated by line 3--3 on Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a vertical central section taken as indicated byline 4 4 on Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the mechanism; Fig. 6 is a detail section taken as indicated byline 6 6 on Fig. 4;'and Fig.

7 is a detail section showing the connection of the operating crank to the main driving shaft of the mechanism.l

In the drawings the numeral 10 designates a camera case which may be made of any suitable size, configuration and design, and may contain any suitable camera mechanlsm.

lThe particular details of the camera mechanism are immaterial so far as any broad aspects of my invention are concerned. In these drawings I have as a matter of fact, shown the camera-mechanism which I have described and claimed lin my co-pending application Serial No. 338 743, filed November-l 17, 1919, and entitled iinetograph mechanism, but it will be readily understood that 'the presentinvention isnot at all limited V to kinetograph mechanisms of that particular character. There are, however, some` fea- `tures of arrangement that I have herein shown which do enter into the present invention somewhat in detail; but it will be readily seen' that, even as. regards these details, the present inventionis not neces sarilyl limited to the particular type of camera mechanism shown inthe drawings. Neither is the present invention limited at all to the particular type of film maga-l zines 11 and l12 shown in the drawings. These film magazines 11 and 12are the subject matter of another co-pending application filed on the 20th dayof January, 1920, Serial No. 352,765, and entitled-Magazine and magazine attachment for kinetograph. It will not be necessary here to explain these film magazines in detail. l

The head of the supporting tripod 1s illus trated at 20. This tripod head is provided with the usual swivel hea-d 21. Swivel head 21 may be swiveled around on the tripod head 20 by'ineans of the usual worm screw arrangement. A worm wheel 23 is mounted in bearings 24 in a case 2,5 secured at 26 to -the swivel head 21 ;v and the stationary head 2O has a worm gear 27 'extendihg around its periphery and engagel by the worm wheel 23. The shaft 28 of worm wheel 23 extends out in both directions and is provided with pins` 28a which act as keys for the crank handle. A

The base 29 ofv the camera supporting frame is mounted'upon swivel head 21 in any ordinary and usual manner, as by means of the screw 30. l

The camera supporting frame or cradle comprises a. structure substantially U-shaped,

having two oppositely disposed arms 31 rising from the base 29. Each of these arms preferably comprises a web 32l which extends upwardly from the base and then, at 32%` extends outwardly, and then `extends on upwardly to the bearings 33. This configuration fits closely to the camera box'and the lower magazine 12. Each web is lightened by openings 34 and 35 and is strengthened by flanges 36 at its edges, the fianges being somewhat 'lightened by openings 37 as shown. The width of each aim in its lower part is'about the same as the diameter of base 29, the upper parts of the arms tapering-*upwardly to thebearlngs 33, as seen in side elevation in Fig. 5. The arms are exceptionally sturdy and rigid in construction although they may be of com- 7 para-tively lightweight, the whole supportpreferably` of cast alu` ing frame beii'ig minul'n.

vTha amende i'sipi-ovided with hoiiow `A oftruni'ons v40I carried infthe bearings 33. These trunnion's at their inner .ends are' screwthreaded at 41into carrying rings 42 which are mounted 'upon bosses 43 of the camera case. These carryinfr rings may be fitted tightly upon the bosses 43 so that the rings trunnions, screwinginto rings 42, shoulder up against the rings at 41a before their outer enlarged ends shoulder against the outer ends of the bearings; so that no strain is put on the cradle when'the trunnions are vscrewed tightly into place. When it is desired to remove, the camera case from the carrying frame, the trunnions 40 may be unsciewed from carrying rings 42. The trunnions are provided at theirv outer ends with knurled flanges 44. When the trunnions are unscrewed they are then free of the carrying rings, and the camera may be lifted from the carrying frame. nions from dropping out of the bearings 33 each trunnion is provided with a peripheral groove 45 and a screw 46 set in bearing 33 projects intothe peripheral groove and forms a limiting stop to limit the outward movement of the trunnion. To prevent the dropping of the camera case when the trunnions arethus removed,l at one side of the supporting frame there is an angle bracket as shown at 48, beneath 4the boss 43 and the carrying rings 42. At the other side of the camera the worm wheel 49 performs this same office and at the same time performs the oiice of tilting the camera about the horizontal axis of trunnions 40. This worm 49 is mounted on a shaft 50 supported in bearings 51 which are mounted upon web 32 of the supporting frame. The worm 49 meshes with a worm sector '52 which is secured to the camei'a case itself. It will be noted that the bearings surfaces of trunnions 40 are of comparatively large diameter, so large that the trunnions are hollowed out for the purpose of saving weight and also for another purpose as hereinafter de scribed. The end bearing surfaces at 56 between rings 42 and the inner surfaces of bearings 33 are also'comparatively large; and as a consequence very little or no wear at all takes place in the supporting bearing, and the camera is always held rigidly in proper position.

Each of the film magazines 1l and 12 is mounted on. the case in a suitable manner, explained in detail in my said co-pending application; and each magazine has a shaft 60 for carrying a reel. The film F passes down' from the upper magazine over the feed sprockets 61 and'thence down through the camera mechanism proper, and through or behind the film gate 62, passing the exposure aperture 63 while held by theifilm gate. Thence the film passes over the lower feed sprockets 63a, and down into the lower magazine 12. The film gate 62 forms a part To prevent the trimof a lm carrier. The means for intermittently moving the film is illustrated in Fig. 2 at 64, and this means is driven through the medium of gears 65 and 66 from the main driving shaft 67 of the whole mechanism. The main driving shaft 67 is located substantially v centrally of the mechanism as yiewed in Fig. 2. All this mechanism is explained in detail in my said first mentioned co-pending application. The driving shaft 67 is supported in bearings 68 and 69,"the bearings 69 being supported in a bushing 70 setin one of the bosses 43. The shaft 6 7 pro'ects outwardly into the hollow of one of t e trunnions 40, as illustrated at 7 0a, and the end 71 of crank shaft 72 is adapted to be inserted in a socket 3 in the end of shaft 67. This socket has a slot 74 in its wall into which a key 75 enters, so as to key the crank shaft 72 to the main driving shaft 67. v Crank shaft 72 carries a crank 76 and crank. handle 77.

Although the main driving shaft 67and the crankare not exactly centered on the horizontal axi's of the trunnion'40, yet they are closely enough centered about that horizontal axis, that the crank remains substantially stationary in its general location. Furthermore, the crank is connected to the case (through the beanings of the main shaft) at a point substantially central with the axis of support of the case; and the case being supported upon rigid and strong members,- there is thus eliminated any tendency of the case to be displaced or vibrated due to the` pressure of the hand on the crank handle. Furthermore, it will be noted. that the exposure aperture`63 is very near'the horizon'- tal axis of the whole mechanism and that, in fact, the exposure area on the film itself behind the aperture 63 is practically exactly centered upon the horizontal axis of trunnion 40. Consequently, any movement of the camera case which might possibly take-place aboutlits horizontal axis will not change, the

.position `of the exposure area of the film.

The features of the support herein shown and described are not cla1med'herein,such\ support being made the subject of' a divisional application in accordance. 'with .official requirement, and embodied inv my copending application Serial No. 579,189'filed Aug-ust 2, 1922. f7

p The broad and underlying features of the invention itself will be understood from the foregoing description; .it being readilyseen that the invention is not limited to the particular details of mechanism herein set forth, nor to combinations with .the particular kind of camera mechanism herein illustrated. I have only given this specific and detailed de.- scription for the purpose of making myV invention most readily intelligible and not for the; purpose of limiting the invention to those particular things herein set forth.

'nions on a Having described a preferred form of my invention, I claim: 1. In motion picture apparatus, a case containing kinetograph mechanism, an exposure aperture in said case, and means supporting said case on a substantially horizontal axis passing through the case and substantially in line with the exposure aperture. 2.Inmotion picture apparatus, a case containing kinetograph mechanism, an exposure aperture in said case, and means supporting said case adjustably about a horizontal axis passing through said case and substantially in linewith said exposure aperture.

3. In motion picture apparatus, a case containing kinetograph mechanism, an exposure aperture in said case, and a plurality of pivotal members supporting said case on a horizontall axis passing therethrough on aline substantially on centerwwith the exposure aperture in said case. j

4. In motion picture' apparatus, a case containing kinetograph mechanism, an exposure aperture `in said case, a substantially U-shaped supporting cradle for said case having upwardly extending arms embracing the case, and pivotal bearings forfthe case in said arms to support it on a horizontal axis passing ,therethrough on a line substantially on center with said exposure aperture.

5. In motion picture apparatus, a case containing kinetograph mechanism, an exl posure aperture 1n sald case, film magazlnesl mounted on and movable with said case, means supportlng sald case and magazines adjustably about a` horizontal axis' passing aperture.

6. In motion picture apparatus, ay supporting cradle mounted to be adjustable about a vertical axis and embodying afpair of upwardly extending arms, a kinetograph case between the arms, an exposure aperture in said case, trunnions substantially 'central of the' case and'substantially in line transversely of said exposure aperture, and the arms avin bearings supporting the trun orizontal axis.

7. In motion picture apparatus, a supporting cradle mounted to be adjustable about a vertical axis and embodying a lpair of upwardly extending arms, a kinetograph casev between the arms, exposure aperture `in, said case, hollow trunnions for the case.

extending from iton opposite sides and on `a horizontal axis substantially central 0f the case, substantially in line transversely with saidnexposure'aperture, the arms having bearings at their upper'ends for the trunnions; kinetograph mechanism in'the`v case,

and driving means therefor embodying a shaft extending through va hollow' trunnion.

8. The combination of a kinetograph case having an exposure aperture therein, film magazines attached to said case on opposite sides thereof and in balanced relation, film operating` mechanism in said oase, a suhstantiall)T U-shaped cradle, and opposijtely disposed pivotal members supportingsaid case and its associated parts on a horizontal axis suhstantiallyLcentr-al of said oase and substantially in line with the exposure aperture.

9. The combination of a kinetograph oase having; an exposure aperture therein, film magazines attached to said case on opposite sides thereof and in balanced relation, film operating` mechanism in said case, a sub- LLOYD BROWN. `Witness VIRGINIA BERINGER. 

